For 12 STONES, rural Mandeville, Louisiana provided the environment that brought the band together and groomed a sound
that mirrors thebest of Modern Rock while tipping its hat to elements indigenous to Mandeville and the rural Deep South.
Though the members of 12STONES are young in years, they are undeniably robust with songwriting prowess and musical
ability. The band's debut is powerful andaggressive, but at the same time seething with anthemic qualities and melody that
surely will enrapture listeners upon first listen. Theoffering is unconditionally impressive when considering three of ...read more

For 12 STONES, rural Mandeville, Louisiana provided the environment that brought the band together and groomed a sound
that mirrors thebest of Modern Rock while tipping its hat to elements indigenous to Mandeville and the rural Deep South.
Though the members of 12STONES are young in years, they are undeniably robust with songwriting prowess and musical
ability. The band's debut is powerful andaggressive, but at the same time seething with anthemic qualities and melody that
surely will enrapture listeners upon first listen. Theoffering is unconditionally impressive when considering three of the four
band members are under 21 years old.12 STONES hail from a small suburb North of New Orleans. Vocalist Paul McCoy
describes Mandeville as a "real small music scene. If youweren't in a cover band there really wasn't any place to play. We
didn't want to do that, and unanimously were committed to making goodmusic that we believed in." The road to the release
of their debut album stands apart from the many who labor for years on end in the hopesof getting that first break. After
roughly a dozen gigs in public, the band's demo began making the rounds.12 STONES took to New York and performed for an
audience of industry representatives. Bassist Kevin Dorr looks back upon theexperience with humor, "I was very nervous to
play in front of all those record executives just sitting there staring at us. A few hours earlier,it being my first time in New
York City, I decided to try Sushi. I ended up turning green and throwing up in the bathroom. I felt sort of sickwhen we first
started playing. I haven't eaten anything raw since then." Frontman and singer-songwriter McCoy adds, "We'd been in
NewYork for about three hours and while walking through Times Square I get pick-pocketed. So here we are, our first few
hours in New Yor City,and Kevin is puking in the bathroom and I'm chasing some guy who stole my wallet just a few hours
before we play the showcase. It wascrazy."There was no doubt that something special was about to spring from the town of
Mandeville, Louisiana. Within just 15 months of forming, theband signed to Wind-up and was on their way to recording their
debut in Los Angeles. Once in L.A., they entered the studio to record withproducer Jay Baumgardner (Papa Roach, Drowning
Pool, Alien Ant Farm). The result of those sessions is proof positive that neithergeography nor chronological age have
anything to do with maturity or talent. Baumgardner is enthusiastic in his assessment: "The enormityof this band is going to
shock the industry." Kind words from a man who has been behind the board for many of the most influential rockdebuts from
the past few years. Vocalist McCoy offers, "We really enjoyed working with Jay and learning how the recording process
worked.It was a great atmosphere in the studio." Guitarist Eric Weaver remarks," I like Jay's style and he's a great
dancer."The album is undeniably well-rounded and filled with hard rocking melodic tunes that could very well become future
classics. In "Broken,"the listener's attention span is taken hold of with absolute force, but then held on to by a hooky melody
that seems to be an undercurrentguttural force against soothing refrain. Weaver and McCoy display an ease in collaboration
where the vocals and guitar work seem to liveand breathe together as one. "The Way I Feel" showcases McCoy's seductively
aggressive voice and earnest emotion, teaming it withWeaver's guitar work that displays the arrival of a talent that could
make major strides in returning the guitar solo to radio. Critics who claim"rock is dead" certainly have not been exposed to
Weaver's work. The playing is for real, as anyone who has seen this band live can attest.Weaver could well become the first
new guitar hero to emerge in the 21st Century.Some of these tracks have an air of anger, but when looking deeper into the
lyrical content it becomes clear that the band is trying to shareemotion many young Americans feel in this day and age.
McCoy says, "We really want to be positive. Our songs are about some of the reallytough times I went through as I was
growing up. I really wanted to target subjects in our songs that kids going through crises can relate to.But we didn't want to
be negative. It doesn't mean you can't be angry and the songs powerful. We just want to stream negative energy in
apositive way. Sometimes you have to accept that you are not in control of a good part of your life. The weird thing is that
once youacknowledge that you have no control, it somehow helps to make it through. It gives you strength."The album that
introduces 12 STONES to the world outside Mandeville is screaming with natural talent. Whether it is Weaver and
McCoy'sabsolute synchronicity in bringing their talents together, or the explosive rhythm section of Dorr and Gainer, this band
has a lot to offer.There is no doubt that they have crafted a collection of songs that are going to find an audience that
jumps on the tracks for the ride. As theband evolves and grows, the thought of what this talent will bring to the airwaves is
awesome. « hide